180 EIGHTH LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MIZORAM (THIRD SESSION) LIST OF BUSINESS FOR EIGHTH SITTING ON FRIDAY, THE 21st JUNE, 2019 (Time 10:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. and 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.) QUESTIONS 1. Questions entered in separate list to be asked and oral answers given. PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS 2. * Resolutions S.R. ZOKHUMA Commissioner & Secretary __________________________________________________________________ * Please see Bulletin Part-II No. 68, dated the 18th June, 2019 for relative precedence of Private Members’ Resolutions to be moved. …. 181 SPEAKER : “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” I Peter 4:8 Hon. Dy. Chief Minister could not attend today and I request hon. member Pu Ramthanmawia to ask Starred Question no. 116. PU RAMTHANMAWIA : Thank you, Pu Speaker. Will the hon. Agriculture Minister be pleased to state the villages of East Tuipui Constituency where measures will be taken? SPEAKER : Hon. Minister Pu C. Lalrinsanga to answer the question. PU C. LALRINSANGA, MINISTER: Pu Speaker, Agriculture Department will take measures at the following villages- 1) Khawbung 2) Khuangthing 3) Samtlang 4) Farkawn 5) Bungzung 6) Vangchhia 7) Dungtlang 8) Vanzau 9) Zawlsei 10) Hruaikawn 11) Sesih 12) Leisenzo 13) Khuangleng 14) Leithum 15) Vaphai Irrigation & Water Resources Department is currently working on Irrigation Project at Vangchhia and Khawbung ‘S’ of East Tuipui Constituency and works will soon be carried out at Thekpui, Farkawn and Vanzau. SPEAKER : Supplementary Question from Pu Lalrinsanga Ralte PU LALRINSANGA RALTE, MINISTER: Thank you, Pu Speaker. My Supplementary Question is- Is there a proposal to take measures at Serlui 182 Constituency? If so, which villages? Pu Speaker, we have many large rice fields in our constituency which are looked after by the non-mizos and is there a proposal to make production according to the values? Is there a way to stop the non-mizos from looking after the fields? SPEAKER : Pu Lawmawma Tochhawng PU LAWMAWMA TOCHHAWNG: Thank you, Pu Speaker. My Supplementary Question is- Is there a proposal to be self-reliant on potatoes, peas, onions and corn across the state? If so, are there any measures taken? Works are carried out at Lunglei for more egg productions but the main problem is the poultry feeds. So, we can lighten each other’s burden if we make more corn cultivations and there will also be cooperation between Agriculture and Vety Departments. It would be quite impressive if steps are also taken on feed mills. SPEAKER : Pu Ramthanmawia PU RAMTHANMAWIA : Thank you, Pu Speaker. It is exciting that measures will be taken better than anticipated and it is also impressive that works will be carried out at the potential areas in my constituency. There are around 323 hectares available for rice fields and we can produce a huge amount of rice. So, when will measures be taken? Thank you SPEAKER : Hon. Minister Pu C. Lalrinsanga. PU C. LALRINSANGA, MINISTER: Thank you, Pu Speaker. In response to Pu C. Lalrinsanga, Serlui Constituency has the most potential areas and the non- mizo workers have been working at the fields for many years. These workers then send more than half of our cultivations to Silchar and that is why we could not gather all our productions. However, surveys will be made soon on land expansions, excavations etc. Land levelling, transplanter and harvests will soon be operated by machines and we also have high hopes on achieving rice mill. Sanction is also approved for purchasing tractors and the youths are also willing to take over the non-mizos which will also give them lasting employment. 183 It is also the potential area particularly for Agriculture Department and as asked by the representative of Serlui Constituency, Irrigation Department will take measures on Vakultui Project, Lower Sesih, Saikhumzau and Sihlui. In response to Pu Lawmawma Tochhawng, potatoes and onions are not quite our subject but we will do our best in maintaining more productions. Besides, corns are planted under NFSM because there are many who domesticate pigs and the need for pig feeds is rising. So, looking at our economy status, it is important to trade with one another rather than relying on imports. Pu Lawmawma Tochhawng is willing to provide Lunglei with egg productions and it would be impressive if measures are taken by collaborating with Agriculture Department. In response to Pu Ramthanmawia, we need to explore more potential areas and in order to be self reliant we need to cultivate rice in two shifts in a year. Some works are ongoing and we will do our best to expedite the works. Thank you, Pu Speaker. SPEAKER : Pu Lalduhoma to ask Starred Question no. 117. PU LALDUHOMA : Pu Speaker, will the Environment, Forests & Climate Change Minister be pleased to state- a) The location of Bamboo Plantation and its range b) The amount of profit from this plantation. SPEAKER : Minister to answer the question. PU TJ. LALNUNTLUANGA, MINISTER: Pu Speaker, my answer is- a) In 458 areas i.e. at 11 Forest Divisions and 3 District Councils and the total range is 38601 b) There are hardly any profits yet since the harvest is done only on one area and 24,000 is gained from 800 bamboos of Sakawrhmuituai Bamboo Plantation. SPEAKER : Supplementary Question from Pu C. Lalsawivunga. PU C. LALSAWIVUNGA: Thank you, Pu Speaker. There is a Bamboo & Rattan Research Centre at Bethlehem Vengthlang initiated by the previous MNF Ministry and how is this useful for the Govt.? Are bamboo/rattan research conducted 184 from this Centre? The inhabitants were to be favoured for the posts but why were they all dismissed? SPEAKER : Dr. K. Pachhunga. Dr. K. PACHHUNGA : Pu Speaker, Anchiri are made quite useful by the poor villages and it is also used for manufacturing perfumes. However, many non- mizos came here to buy them and they are becoming limited. So, is there a proposal to conserve them? SPEAKER : Pu Lalduhoma PU LALDUHOMA : Thank you, Pu Speaker. There are many schemes under Bamboo Plantation like Artificial Regeneration, Natural Regeneration, National Bamboo Mission and Finance Commission Grant, Medicinal Plant Project etc and it seems like we receive a lot of revenue from these. However, I believe there will not be much to see if we are to look at the wide plantation areas and we had only received Rs. 24,000 as revenue. This proves that it is not a profitable investment policy and it would be more benefitting if the NGOs are in charge and plant more bamboos if needed. If not, we will spend a lot with not much good results. SPEAKER : The Assembly Committee might need to look at it as well. Hon’ Minister to answer the question. PU TJ. LALNUNTLUANGA, MINISTER: Thank you, Pu Speaker. In response to Pu C. Lalsawivunga regarding the dismissing of the inhabitants, no one is dismissed during this present Ministry. PU C. LALSAWIVUNGA: The Ministry might not know it but they were dismissed and I am not saying the present Ministry dismissed them. I am asking if actions could be taken. PU TJ. LALNUNTLUANGA, MINISTER: It seems like the previous Ministry’s doing and we will look into it. We do not interfere on the management of FRCBR and in response to Dr. K. Pachhunga on Anchiri, we proposed to initiate its conservation together with the Forest Officials and PCCF. 185 In response to Pu Lalduhoma regarding Plantation, the Bamboo Mission is under the Central’s Agriculture Ministry and Farmer Welfare and the department to look after it is not yet settled. However, we will have a further study into it. PU C. LALSAWIVUNGA: Pu Speaker, the Bamboo & Rattan Research Centre was initiated by the previous MNF Ministry. They now formed the Ministry again and how did they not know about it? (PU LALDUHOMA: My question) PU TJ. LALNUNTLUANGA, MINISTER: Pu Speaker, what I meant was that the Govt. does not interfere on its administration and management. PU LALDUHOMA : Pu Speaker, whether it is under the Bamboo Mission or State Bamboo Development Board or SEDP, the implementation of several schemes is not convenient at all. So, is there a way to implement this policy from another aspect? I believe we can have great forests if we hand them over to the NGOs. SPEAKER : I request our Hon’ House Leader. PU ZORAMTHANGA, CHIEF MINISTER: Pu Speaker, Bamboos were under Forest Department before but the Central assigns Horticulture Department to look after it since it is scientifically a grass and not a tree. So, we also took measures for it to be under Horticulture Department. The Research Centre at Bethlehem Vengthlang was initiated and programmed by the Central Govt. Bamboo is now our main flagship programme and we have targeted its two seeds- Brandicy and Latifloras. It is important that Link road passes through the Plantation and this plantation needs 4/5 years to fully develop and during these years, the link road will also be developed by then. It will then be privatized and the private planters will form a plantation society just like Hnahlan. This will also create employment and the process does not even need high electricity power. The main problem in this regard is link road which I believe will be developed gradually. We are now preparing to hand over the society system to the Village concern. SPEAKER : Mr. Leader of the House, Sir, will it be advisable to Sign annual maintenance contract agreement? PU ZORAMTHANGA, CHIEF MINISTER: Pu Speaker, it will be required. SPEAKER : We will now move on to Starred Question No.118. Let us call upon our hon. Member, Pu Vanlalhlana to ask the question.